Educational toy puzzle



June 8, 1954 s. M. FORD 2,680,307

EDUCATIONAL TOY PUZZLE Filed Jan. 10, 1952 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 8, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,680,307 EDUCATIONAL TOY PUZZLE Silas M. Ford, St. Paul, Minn. Application January 10, 1952, Serial No. 265,788

6 Claims. 1 This invention relates to an improvement in educational toys and deals particularly with a puzzle of the jig-sawtype which incorporates a compass.

ings. A covering panel II overlies the panel I0. The puzzle pieces are ordinarily a part of the panel II and are cut therefrom prior to the assembly of the device. For the purpose of simplicity the numeral II will designate the frame of the puzzle. This frame I I is adhered or otherwise secured to the base panel In and is usually Jig-saw puzzles have been found advantageous of the same outline shape. When the frame II from an educational standpoint for educating is adhered to the base panel II], a recess is formed young children. The child is taught to assemble into which the various puzzle pieces may be the various parts in a predetermined relation and inserted. also to associate various colors and parts with a The puzzle itself is provided with a center piece particular location. The present invention deals I3 having a circular aperture extendingtherewith a puzzle having a compass embodied therein through. The aperture i4 is designed to accomso that the child may learn the operation of a modate a compass which is indicated in general compass and the manner in which the compass by the numeral I5. In the particular form of is used. The pieces forming the puzzle comprise construction illustrated the compass I 5 is enthe points of the compass and the child is taught closed in a transparent casing which includes a the relationship of these points with respect to bottom disc I5 and a cup shaped cover piece each other and with respect to the compass. which includes a circular cover panel ll having A feature of the present invention lies in the cylindrical side walls I9 connected thereto. The provision of a puzzle which includes a series of end of the side wall I9 is provided with a periphpieces which fit together in one particular relaeral flange I8. The disc I6 is pressed into the tion. As a result the pieces of the puzzle which side wall I9 to extend flush with the flange I8. bear indicia indicating points of the compass are Suitable cement or adhesive is usually used bealways in proper relation when the puzzle is tween these parts to seal the interior of the housassembled. ing formed in this manner.

A. feature of the present invention lies in The disc I6 is provided with a support 20 and mounting a compass in a center portion of the a pivot or spindle 2I. The magnetic needle 22 puzzle and in surrounding this center piece with supports a center bearing 23 which is loosely puzzle parts which form the various points of supported upon the spindle 2| so as to rotate the compass. The points are placed in predeterfreely. The bearing 23 usually extends into close mined relation relative to the center piece and proximity with the cover panel I? of the enwith each other. closure I5 so that the needle cannot move longi- .A further feature of the present invention retudinally upon the spindle 2| a distance sufficient sides in the provision of a puzzle which embodies to permit disengagement thereof.

a compass and removable parts which indicate The compass enclosure I5 is frictionally enthe various points of the compass and in colorgaged in the aperture I4 of the center piece It ing the various puzzle pieces in such a Way that and may be held in place by adhesive if desired. the location of the pieces may be learned from A groove is usually formed in the center piece I3 association with color, as well as with a particuencircling the aperture I4, this groove being inlar shape. As a result the puzzle is instructive dicated at 24 for accommodating the flange 29 in indicating various colors and in distinguishing of the enclosure so that the outer surface of the one color from another. disc l6 and flange 23 may extend flush with the These and other objects and novel features of surface of the puzzle piece I3. my invention will be more clearly and fully set A pointed puzzle piece 25 adjoins the center forth in the following specification and claims. piece i3 and is separated therefrom by an irregu- In the drawings forming a part of my specifilar line 26 so that this piece 25 will fit only in cation: one relative position with respect to the center Figure 1 is a top plan view of the puzzle showpiece I3. A second pointed piece 27 likewise is ing the relationship of the parts therein. separated from the center piece I3 along the ir- F'igure 2 is a sectional view through the puzzle, regular line 26 so that this piece 21 must be lothe position of the section being indicated by the cated opposite the piece 25. Two additional line 22 of Figure 1. pointed pieces 29 and 30 are arranged on oppo- The puzzle is indicated in general by the letter site sides of thecenter puzzle piece l3, these pieces A, The puzzle preferably includes a base board also being separated from the central piece along it which may be of any preferred shape. This the irregular line '26 so that they can fit in one board being indicated as rectangular in the drawrelative position only.

It will be noted that the pointed pieces thus described extend beyond a c'cu1ar outline BI so that the proper location of these pointed pieces relative to the frame II is insured. The pointed notch 32 at the upper end of the circle accommodates the pointed piece 25. A somewhat similar notch 33 extends into the frame I I in diametrically opposed relation to the notch 32. The notch 32 is somewhat larger than the notch 33 so that the puzzle piece 25 may fit properly only in one position in the frame.

Opposed notches 34 and 35 extend into the frame II on opposite sides of the circular outline 3|. These notches are designed to accommodate the pointed ends of the puzzle pieces 29 and 30.

A puzzle piece 36 having a double point 31 extends into a notch 39 in the frame II. This puzzle piece 36 is provided with a rounded end 40 which fits a similar contour in the pointed puzzle pieces 25 and 23 at the juncture thereof. A somewhat similar puzzle piece 4| also having a double point 42 extends into a notch 43 which is diametrically opposed from the notch 39. However, the end of the puzzle piece 4! opposite the pointed end thereof is in itself pointed as indicated at 44, as distinguished from the rounded end of the puzzle piece 36. Thus the puzzle pieces 36 and 4| cannot be substituted one for the other in the assembly of the puzzle.

A puzzle piece 45 having a rounded outer end 46 and a rounded inner end 41 extends into a rounded notch 49 in the frame II and into a rounded recess at the juncture between the puzzle pieces 25 and 30. A somewhat similar puzzle piece 50 having a rounded outer end fits into a rounded notch 52 in the frame I I. This notch 52 is diametrically opposedto the notch 49. The puzzle piece 50 differs from the puzzle piece 45 in having a pointed end 53 which fits into a similarly shaped part of the adjoining surfaces of the puzzle pieces 21 and 29.

The puzzle also includes puzzle pieces 54, 55, 55, 51, 59, 60 and BI, all of which have an arcuate outer edge and properly shaped contour to fit between the various puzzle pieces. All of these pieces are generally triangular in shape, as will be seen and these parts may be similarly colored.

In assembling the puzzle it is preferable to first insert the pointed pieces 25, 21, 29 and 30. These pieces fit together only when the piece 25 is in the notch 32, thus properly locating the other parts. If desired the pointed piece 25 may be first inserted and then the center piece I 3 may be inserted which'provides the proper arrangement of the pointed pieces 21, 29 and 39. Obviously if these last three pieces are inserted in improper relation, the center piece l3 can not be inserted.

Once the pointed pieces thus described are inserted together with the center piece 13, the intermediate points of the compass may be inserted. It will be noted that the piece 36 will fit only in one place in the puzzle and while the double point 31 may fit either in the notch 39 or the notch 43, the opposite end of these pieces will not fit the contour of the pieces 25 and 29. This is also true of each of the puzzle pieces 36, 45, 4| and 50. The insertion of the remaining puzzle pieces then completes the assembly of the structure.

It will be noted that when the puzzle is assembled as described the body of the puzzle may be rotated so that the puzzle piece 25 which bears the letter N or the word North is in line with the end of the pointer 22 which is attracted to the magnetic North Pole. The various puzzle pieces which extend into notches in the frame ll all preferably bear indicia indicating the points of the compass and are always in proper relationship when the puzzle is assembled. Thus the child may learn how to use the compass and the relationship of the various compass points. As compasses normally are of considerable interest to small children, the toy is of considerable benefit in educating the child along the lines indicated.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my educational toy puzzle, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. An educational toy including a series of puzzle pieces fitting together irra predetermined relationship, certain of said puzzle pieces being arranged about a center point and forming the points of a compass, and a compass including a support and a magnetic needle pivotally connected thereto arranged at the center point, said support forming one of said puzzle pieces and interfitting therewith.

2. An educational toy including a series of puzzle pieces capable of fitting together in a predetermined relationship, one of said puzzle pieces comprising a center piece and others of said puzzle pieces encircling said center piece and interfitting therewith in a predetermined angular relationsh p, said puzzle pieces forming the points of the compass, and a compass secured to said center piece centrally with respect to said puzzle points.

3. The structure described in claim 2 and in which the compass includes a casing and a magnetic needle enclosed within said casing.

4. The structure described in claim 2 and in which the compass includes a casing and a magnetic needle supported within said casing, said casing fitting in an aperture in the center puzzle plece.

5. An educational toy including a frame having a generally circular aperture therein, a series of four angularly spaced notches in the periphery of said aperture, a series of four puzzle pieces within said aperture, each puzzle piece extending into a corresponding notch and representing a compass point, and a center puzzle piece within said first named puzzle pieces and separated therefrom along an irregular line, each of said four puzzle pieces fitting said center puzzle piece in one angular relation only, and a compass positioned at the center of said circular aperture and encircled by said center puzzle piece.

6. The structure described in claim 5 and including a second series of notches in the periphery of said aperture between the first mentioned notches and four additional puzzle pieces each fitting into one of said notches and each fitting against two of said first mentioned four puzzle pieces, all of said puzzle pieces being arranged to fit together in one particular relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 793,767 Burke July 4, 1905 1,276,344 Gilman Aug. 20, 1918 2,443,468 Madden June 15, 1948 

